Golf driving machine



Nov. 7, 1950 H. R. SMITH 2,528,616

GOLF DRIVING MACHINE Filed Feb. 16, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HARVEY 1?, SMITH ATTORNEYS Nov. 7, 1950 H. R. SMITH 2,528,616

GOLF DRIVING MACHINE Filed Feb. 16, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HARVEY R SM/TH ATTORNEYS Nov. 7, 1950 H. R. S MlTH GOLF DRIVING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Shee't 3 Filed Feb. 16, 1948 INVENTOR. HARVEY R. SMITH ATTORNEYS Nov. 7, 1950 H. R. SMITH 2,528,616

GOLF DRIVING MACHINE Filed Feb. 16, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 :F'lg 11 170 176 156 LIP L J 2% ,9 E23 184 fazp,

COINKTIME CONTROLLED SWITCH INVENTOR. HARVEY E. SMITH BY W ATTORNEYS I Patented Nov. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GOLF DRIVING MACHINE Harvey R. Smith, Ann Arbor, Mich. Application February 16, 1948, Serial No. 8,641

. ject to provide a compact, rugged and reliably accurate practice device including means accurately simulating a teed golf ball presented in the normal manner to the'practicing playerjand indicator means responsive to-the impact of the club on the simulatedball, and affected by its force, direction and mode of application, to provide indication of the resultant effect which ing stroke.

In its illustrated form, while a struck artificial golf ball mounted in my device isnot free to be projected in flight, the flight or trajectory characteristics of an actual golf ball struck in the same manner may be estimated and indicated accurately by the reaction of such artificial ball in its special mountings. The indications made available by the apparatus include the estimated driving distance, to which the force of driving impact of the golf club is readily converted, the estimated approximate amount and sense of deviation or initial divergence of the ball, whether to the right or left, from the direction of nominal aim, and whether a hook or slice curve would have been effected by. the clubs impact tending to spin the ball appreciably. v

It is another object of the invention to provide actuating mechanism the operation of which can be coordinated readily to operate single indicator means making possible the convenient display of these variable factors to the player in prominent fashion immediately following a driving stroke, and to make the mechanism responsive to slight differences in driving strokes andcapable of recycling rapidly by being reset conveniently by the player.

It is an important object of the invention to accomplish the foregoing with an artificial ball so mounted as to resemble and feel to the player, when struck by his club, like a normally played ball. The driving form of the player thus developed by such practice may be applied directly to actual play on a golf course without requiring a change of playing habit.

Accordingly, a feature of the invention resides in the combination of a lightweight, freely mov able support pivoted for swinging forwardly and carrying integral with it a simulated golf ball at.

its swinging upper end arranged to actuate an estimated-distance indicator whichis energized by the impact of the struck ball element. The

Claims. (Cl. 27335) would be imparted to a ball by the players driv- V indicator or marker, operated each time theb'allelement is struck, remains in indicating condition until the device is recycled for another 'play. In addition, the support mountings permit it to swing laterally or sidewise to actuate selectively second indicator means showing the es'timated deviation to the right or left of the path of aim that a ball would be driven by the stroke;

Preferably appropriate illumination of an indicator board iseffected by switching'means ac tuated by the simulated ball element to display in prominent pictorial manner the estimated drive distance and deviation for each stroke. An indication of slice or hook detected by tendency of the ball support to be rotated about an 'upright axis as the ball element is struck may ac-' tuate further switching means, for additional control over energization of the indicator board illuminating means.

Still another feature comprises resetting mechanism for returning the simulated ball ele ment support to'dispose the ball element inits upraised, teed position, and restoring the indicator and display means to their initial condition'in readiness for a succeeding play. The resetting operation may be effected simply by the player energizing a recycling solenoid or similar device at the proper time. 7

Various other features, including the details" of construction and operation of my apparatus will now be decsribed with greater particularity by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating its preferred form. Figure 1 is a plan view of my golf ball prac tice driving mechanism; Figure2 is a sideelevation View of the same installed for operation; and Figure 3 is a front elevation view with parts broken away along line 3-3 of Figure 1, showing the detail of the flight-deviation indicating mechanism and the action of a struck ball'element in operating such mechanism. a Figure l is a detail sectional vieW of the piv'-' otal mounting for the ball-support spindlej. and Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of'the device taken on line 55 of Figure 1, showing means for indicating estimated deviatio'n'o'f a driven ball, and in broken lines illustratingthe' end views, respectively, of the ball" element sup port spindle mounting and associated switching means responsive to turning of the spindle when the ball element is struck in such way'as would normallyproduce aslice or hook. r

Figure 8 is a top perspective view of an element of electrical switching means associated with the estimated ball deviation indicator.

shape, size and inertia as a normal golf ball.-

The ball element support, shown best in Figures 1 and 5, comprises a spindle l2 simulating a golf ball tee, supported for universal pivoting at its base and projecting upwardl from it through an aperture M in the floor It or driving mat on which the player stands and beneath which the machine is installed. Figure 2 shows in broken lines :the ballelement and spindle in upraised, teed position, ready for. driving,

Theaggregate weight of the ball element I0, spindle I-2, and parts'carried directly by it, is

selected of such-valueas' to 'resist'movement of the golf club to ,a degree similar tothe resistance ofiered by an actual golf ball teed and driven in normal manner. When struck, the ball element, swingingforward on its support, disappears instantlythrough the aperture M and thereby offers no interference to follow-through of the players club. The ball does not reappearabove the driving mat untilmotivated bythe player resetting the apparatus when, he is ready.

. The vpredominantdriving force and --resulting swinging movement of the ball elements-and :supporting spindle occurs in a forward -direction, and to. a less extent sidewise. Theprincipalpivot of the spindle thus arranged horizontally, trans-' versely of the plane of golf club swing, enables forward tilting of the spindle in such .plane. Suchpivot may comprise conical-tip-bearingsii) engaging conical recesses in plugs .22,'which are threaded in holes in the legs of yoke *l8,'.to support the spindle between such legs. the plugs in'their holes ZZthe'engagement of the conical: supporting tips may be adjusted'for tightness and to center the spindle in yoke 1'3. To enable the spindle to swing sidewise if the ball element Ill should not be struck exactly in the plane-of its intended travel, yoke l8 itself is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of theapparatus, in the line of normal drive of the ball, having a supporting shaft ll journaled in a suitable mounting block 19 carried beneath the frame plate 24.

In addition to the foregoing two'types of freedom of the ball element, enabling it to swing forwardly and to either side when struck from its teed position, the spindle is journaled for turning about its own axis in a supporting sleeve'25 formed integrally with the conical bearing tips 20. Atlthe upper end of the sleeve 26 the spindle l2 has an annular rib which abuts the adjacent side of an antifriction bearing receivedin the end of the sleeve to prevent the spindle slipping downwardly. At the lower end the spindle is held in the sleeve by a nut 21 threaded onto the end By turning bearings, the amount of torque being related to the degree of inaccuracy of the blow.

The first consideration in deriving a measure l "or the driving power of a stroke applied to the ball element IQ, in order to estimate the distance in flight a comparable free ball would have been driven, is to determine the momentum imparted to the ball member l0 when struck by the golf club. This is preferably accomplished by absorbing the kinetic energy of the ball as sembly, as it swings forwardly on its support, by a spring, and utilizingthe resulting maximum displacement of the spring as an indication of such -momentum. Accordingly, after limited movement of the ball member in an arc forwardly and downwardly about bearings 20, it strikes yieldable impact-receiving means comprising a displaceable anvil. 3% which isfsupported at the ends of pivotal arms 32 in a position for receiving the impact of the struck ball element after it has cleared the golf. club anddropped through the driving -mat opening. :During such travel thespindle l ZsWingsthrough a: fairly large-angle, preferably approachinga right angle. .At, their opposite ends the arms 32 are supported by the aligned. shafts 34,,journaled' for swinging about a horizontal axis in the. opposite sides 36 of "the machine frame. A rubber padtll' covers'any-il 3ll'to increase the life oftheballand reduce the shockrof each impact with the-anvil. .1

One of the shafts Mex-tends through its sid 35, to the projectingend of which issecuredE'a pinion. 38. Meshingwith such inion israck as seen in Figures 1 and 3, the forward end of which is connected to a cross bar 42. Thiszbar is'held against movement rearwardly by a pair of stiff, tension springs '44 reacting between opposite ends of the crossbarand corresponding anchoring supports lli, to which cross bar ends ill of thejspindle and bearing against washer 28, a

and supports the opposite :spring ends are fastened. As the ball element strikes anvil 3e, ides pressing it, gear 38 is turned to displaceirack'dilz' rearwardly against the combined tension 50f springs 44. The distance through which :the'. anvil is driven downward is limited by "the tension of the springs which absorb the kineticen ergy of the ball member In and moving parts-associated with it. The maximums'pring displacement is thus related directly to the'driving power.

applied to the ball element by thess'wung golf club. i While various'devices maybe employed to pre-' vent the ball I0 from being heaved violently upwardly by the force of the springs 4'4 acting through the gear and rack connection on the anvil following their extension, in the mechanism shown, the springs react against a dashpot as designed to allow them to be stretched freely by movement of the rack effected by the impact of the ball, but to contract only slowly. This damping action of the dashpot min'i'mizes shock and excessive wear in the apparatus, and thus in-" creases the life of its moving parts. The dashpot may comprise a fixed outer cylinder '55 and coacting piston 52 connected by rod '54 directlyto the rack Ml. Cylinder 5G is carried by a stationary supporting bracket 60 which also carries the anchoring supports 46 for the springs M1 The cylinder has an opening 58 normally closed by a spring loaded plunger 56. While th' spring opposes movement of the plunger in a direction to open orifice 58 during the outward'stroke of'the' piston, it is a light springneeded'merely to insure movement of the plunger to close port 53 when the pistons motion is reversed, so that the piston can move outward substantially freely. When the plunger closes, only a small central orifice extending through the plunger remains through which air trapped in the cylinder can escape whilethe piston'is drawn toward the orifice by springs 84 asthey contract.

While the anvil 38, the rack 48, the spring assembly and the dashpot are necessarily constructed ruggedly for receiving and withstanding the heavy impact loads imposed on them by the' ball element II), the indicator mechanism by which the balls momentum is measured may be of comparatively lightweight construction. Such mechanism includes a relatively fine-pitch pinion 62 secured on the shaft 34 opposite that which carries pinion 38. Rack 64, meshing with pinion 62, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, is driven rearwardly by such pinion when the anvil is swung downward, carrying with it a lightweight follower comprising plate I58 sliding in guide ways I2. The rack and follower are interengaged for such conjoint movement in only one direction of the racks movement by block 68 secured adjustably to the rack 84, abutting an upwardly projecting catch I0 mounted on plate 88, as shown in Figures 1 and 3.

The plate, thus moved by the rack 54, travels a distance corresponding to the stretch of springs 84 effected by the displacement of rack 48. Despite the prompt return of rack 64 to its forward position, conjointly with a corresponding return forwardly of rack 48 and upward movement of anvil 3U effected by contraction of springs 44, slide 68 remains in its farthest displaced position to indicate the momentum of the struck ball element. Thus plate 88 serves as an estimated drive distance indicator, remaining in its displaced in dicating position until the apparatus is reset. Not only does the plate afford a direct visual indication of estimated driving distance by its position, but it may constitute a switch element for controlling the actuation of remote, drive distance indicating display means, in a manner to be described.

In order to establish by design the extent of the displacement of the anvil following impact, and. hence that of the follower plate 88, the springs 44 may be selected to have any desired characteristics, or they may be supported in adjustable or preloadable mountings to enable their initial tension to be established when installed. Variations such as this may be effected in any of various known ways.

If the ball element ill is, not struck along the direct line of aim, straight ahead, spindle I2 supporting it will be swung sidewise by the golf clubs impact as wellas forwardly, resulting in yoke I8 turning about its supporting shaft II. In order to measure and indicate the degree of sidewise swinging momentum of the ball to serve as a basis for estimating flight path deviation or divergence, shaft assembly. I'Iconnected to the yoke carried a downwardly projecting finger 14 having a downwardly opening transverse slot formed in its lower end, in which is received a horizontal, upper guide rod 16 over which the finger slides as it swings, transversely of the device, as shown in Figures 3 and 5. In its neutral position the finger hangs downwardly in vertical position where it is held, closely flanked on either side by the opposing slides I8 and 88 encircling the upper guide rod I6. Each slide has a rounded, finger-contacting button urged'toward the finger by a compression spring. -These springs 82 and 84 encircle shaft I6. Thesprings reactbetween the slides I8 and and corresponding sides 36- of the machine frame.

Slides I8 and 80 have flanges arranged to abut the upper edges of corresponding followers 86 and 88, respectively, which are guided for sliding movement along the lower guide rod 80 disposed parallel to rod I8. At the base of the machine a detent-receiving bar 92 (Figures 3 and 5) is mounted parallel to the rods directly beneath the followers 86 and 88, and is provided in its upper side with a plurality of spaced cavities 94 in which a registering detent ball 96 carried by each follower, 'may be lodged selectively by force of its detent spring 98. Such detents need not also hold buttons I8 or 88 against its spring 82 or 84 because the head I8 or 88 merely pushes against its follower. Each follower 88 and 88 may thereby assume one of several stopping positions, corresponding tothe different displacements of one of springs 82, 84 occurring with different degrees of rotation of shaft I'I caused by various angular deviations of the ball element struck off the correct line of aim.

Thus when the ball element It is struck sidewise, swinging finger I l laterally, the opposing slide I8 or 80 will be moved outwardly along rod I6 against the force of its spring 82 or 84, respectively, a distance corresponding to the amount of lateral deflection of the ball element. Such slide movement displaces to the same degree the corresponding follower 86 or '88 to one,

or another of the detent registering positions. Because of the detent, the follower remains in its displaced position while the spring and slide return totheir initial positions, recentering the finger I4 and yoke I8. One of the followers 88 or 88 corresponds to a left deviation of the ball, while the other corresponds to'a right deviation, and, as shown later herein, each of the followers 86 and 88 acts as a switching member carrying contacts which control the operation of the illuminating display board coordinately with the switching action of the follower plate 86 of the distance indicator.

To reset the apparatus for a subsequent play, it is necessary to return the displaced follower members 68, 86 and 88, to their initial positions and erect the ball support spindle I2. All these operations may be accomplished simultaneously by suitable mechanism. The follower 88 or 88 displaced may be returned to its initial position by rotation of a crank disk I 88 (Figure 3), effected by turning a crank arm I52 connected to the disk. Links. I82 and I84 connected to the crank I disk at opposite locations for conjoint opposite gage either of the followers and carry it inwardly.

Each of links I62 and I88 has a return spring III), which returns its link to its initial position,

such movement simultaneousl returning crank disk I08 to its neutral position. Crank arm H2 5 is turned by draw-n chain I M connected to it, and the latter extends from the crank arm through a guide tube H5, curved in a right angle arc, to

guide the chain for wrapping'around drum II 8,

to which the end of the chain is fastened.

Follower plate 86 moving in guides I2 is returned to its initial position by draw chain I253 I I8, to which its;end is likewise secured Such 7 drum ":is suitably grooved to receive both the chains, and is keyed or otherwise fixed to a supporting shaft I24 received and journaled concentrically within the shaft supporting pinion 62. It will therefore be evident that rotating drum II8 Wraps on it chains IZO'and H4, the former connected to plate "56 and the latter to the return mechanism for followers 86 and 88, thus simultaneously returning all of the followers to their initial positions.

In'addition the same rotation of this drum is operative to raise theball element It! to its teed position,- Shaft I24 has at its inner end an offset I26 constituting a contact arm which engages beneath-the ball element supporting spinkile I2; By upward swinging of this offset the ball element is raised into teed position when shaft I24 is rotated to return'the displaced followers to their initial positions, A stop, such as aleather or'rubber'tab I21, seen in Figures 1 and 2, limits the upward swinging movement of the spindle by engagement therewith when in its substantially vertical position.

Rotation of drum H3 and shaft I 24, to ffect all of the return movements discussed, is accomplished by actuation of a master control comprising solenoid I28 having a reciprocable plunger I32 connected to a draw chain 534 wrapped around and secure-d to the drum H8. The solenoid is supported by brackets i158 in such manner time following each downward swingingmovement of the ball element supporting spindle I2.

In order .to display clearly and graphically, or

pictorially, to the practicing'player the estimated effect of each practice'drive, I provide an illuminated display board ME (Figure 10) controlled by switches actuated by the several indicator 'means of the driving apparatus. Such a board is the subject of my copending application Serial No. 8,642, filed February 16, 1948. As a visual aid to the player, after each play the board displays an illuminated pattern or line simulating or representing approximately the path of a struck ball, in plan view, as when played normally on a golf course or'driving range. For this purpose the front of the board has an opaque screen I42 which is made translucent along different selected lines representative of typical paths of a golf ball struck in the various possible ways, the lines being arranged in a. plurality of groups, such as the groups I M, M5 and IE8. In the illustrative simplified board, the central group of these lines I46, comprising amiddle vertical line originating near the bottom of the screen I42 and extending straight upwardly of aim. The similar groups of lines, I44 and M8,.

represent-the possible paths of a ball struck with deviation to the left or to the right, respectively;

8. from the path of aim. If, in. any of these directions of drive the ball element is struck without slice, or hook the middle line onl of the appropriate group will be illuminated, The right and leftcurved lateral lines, diverging from each side of the middle line, represent the flight paths of a ball struck with appreciable slice or hook depending upon the direction in which'the ball element spindle I2 tends to turn and the side of the ball element on which the player stands. Thus, whether the ball was struck with or without slice or hook is indicated in each instance in addition to'its deviation or lack of deviation.

The translucent line on the screen which corresponds to the appropriate estimated path of a struck ball is illuminated by a system'of lights located behind the screen. For each such line there is a corresponding line of lights, and lights line, hence the length of'that line illuminated, 7

depends upon the estimated length of drive corresponding to the power of the driving stroke. A more elaborate display board-could be provided, if desired, as shown. in my copending application mentioned above, for example.

In Figure 11 the arrangement of the lights behind the screen is shown connected in the indicator-actuated control circuits them. The lights arranged to correspond to the group of lines I44, I46, M8- on the screen are designated with the same numerals primed. Each such group, I44, I46, and I48, is made up of aplurality, in this case four, 'of separate rows of lights which lie along the arcs of concentric circles of successively increasing diameters and centered near the base of the screen, from which center the divergent lines radiate generally. The arcuate rows of lights correspond to different driving distances to which the translucent lines are to be illuminated. Obviously -more rows of such lights may be employed where the driving distance is to be indicated more exactly.

Usually no lights-need be provided to designate less than a certain distance corresponding to the inmost circle of lights, because of the inconvenience in mounting the lights on the board close together and the infrequency, and ready recognition, of dubbed drives by the player. a

If the estimated driving distance does not exceed that corresponding to the inmost row of lights, one light of that row, and none of the other lights on the board, will then be illuminated. If the estimated driving distance is greater, to the extent that it corresponds to the location of the next row of lights, both the light in that rowand the one in the inmost row in the appropriate flight path line will be illuminated; similarly for other estimated driving distances and flight-path lines. If desired, the individual lights behind the screen may be shielded from each other so as to illuminate only the'portions of the translucent lines to which they correspond, preventing diffusion of light tending toconfuse the player asto the correct indicated direction or range of a played ball.

Anticipating use of the device in country or athletic clubs, driving ranges, or the like, a coineoperated and time, or play-controlled operating :be' colored and decorated to 'switch264 of suitable type may be employed as a master control which must first be actuated by depoSiting a coin before the display board control circuit can be energized or solenoid I28 can be operated. to reset the apparatus. By deposit of'a coin the switch 264 is closed and will remain closed to permit the device being used fora limited time or for making a predetermined number of strokes, depending on the election of the owner.

Lights I51 arranged about the display board in any desired manner are connected in circuit with switch 264 to light up the board generally whenever this switch is closed, indicating that the machine has been placed 'in operation. The board generally may represent a golf course driving area.

Inthe display board control circuit, connectsystems are employed to account for the separate'control factors of driving dstance, flight path deviation, and slice or hook. The switch- .ed in serie with switch 264, separate switching V ingsystem for the factor of driving distance is actuated by or includes follower plate 66 of the driving apparatus (Figure 1), movable into contacting engagement with one or more of a series of spaced contacts I56. Such contacts may be supported stationarily in an insulating plate I52. .The metal plate 66 is energized from its sliding contact with the metal guides 12, to which is connected an electrical lead I56 branching from one side of a source of current for illuminating the electric lights.

As the ball element of the apparatus is struck, and the anvil 36 depressed accordingly, the follower plate 66 is shifted to a distance-indieating position where it engages a number of contacts E56,.including the one nearest to it, depending upon the driving power of. the stroke. Accordingly, one or more of the wires 256, M56, E62, I62, extending to corresponding terminals of all the lights in their respective rows, as shown in Figure 11, are energized from the lead i516. Contacts I56may be spaced apart by any selected distances along the direction of movement of follower plate :66, to produce the desired graduation scale of distances represented by the successive rows of lights, or to correct for non-linearity of the displacement of springs 34 as a function of correct estimated driving distance.

Figure 9 illustrates a suitable construction of contacts E66. Each comprises the round head of a pin I66 received in a vertical hole in the insulating plate I52. The upper portion of each hole is enlarged to form a shoulder between which and the base of the pin (head a helical spring ifisreacts to force the pin upwardly normally into a position projecting slightly above the surface of plate I52, where it may be contacted by the overlying follower plate 66 as it is reciprocated by rack 62. To the lower end of each pin is secured the bare end of an insulated wire, such as lead I58, clamped between a pair of nuts threaded on such pin.

, The estimated flight path deviation switching systemincludesgroups of movable contacts, one groupbeing moved in response to deviation of the ball element I 6 to the left 01 the path of aim, while theother group is moved in response to such. deviation to the right ofthe path of' aim. For example, the group for leftward deviation may include the three contacts I16, I12, and I14 whereas the other, independently movable group includes the separate, contacts I16, I18 and I86.

As' will be shown, the three separate contacts of each group are connected in circuit branches.

energized in accordance with the presence or absence of slice or hook of the struck ball.

The triplet contact groups are mounted with their contacts in spaced vertical relation on insulating plates I82, one of which is secured to each of the transversely movable follower slides 86- or 88 (Figures 1 and 8). The individual contact groups are thereby displaced in accordance with the deviation to the left or right of the path of aim of a struck ball by turning of shaft I1 and swinging of lever 14 to shift the slides 86 and 88 as described previously.

Corresponding groups of stationary switch contacts I16, I12, etc., engageable by the moving contacts just described, are supported in a vertical insulating mounting I83. The position of each group corresponds to the locations of the sockets'for the detents of the followers 86 and 88. In Figure 11, three such stationary groups are indicated, designated by the same numerals primed, as the movable contacts which are respectively engageable by the contacts of the movable group. The contacts of each stationary group are connected to the lights for one group of path lines on the board I46 corresponding to the respective degree of flight path deviation. The contacts of both inmost groups, corresponding to zero deviation, are connected in series to the lights of the central group of lines I46.

, With the machine set in readiness for the ball to be struck, the contacts of the inmost groups of stationary contacts are engaged and continue r to be engaged following a play if the amount of deviation imparted to the ball element I6 isIinsufficient to swing the finger 14 laterally enough minal of the source of illuminating current opposite lead I56, Between the movable contacts and such terminal is interposed the hook-andslice switching mechanism.

Contact I16, corresponding to the lights for illuminating the central line in each group, is connected to wire I 82 which extends through the normally closed contacts of rela I 84 to the prin-' cipal energizing lead I86; wire I88 is connected to contact I12, corresponding to the lights for the right line in each display board group, to extend to one side of the field winding of a holdin relay I96; and lead I92 is connected between contact I14, corresponding to the lights for the left line in each display board group, and one side of the field winding of a similar relay I94. Contacts I16, I18, and I86 of the other group of movable contacts are respectively connected by flexible leads I96, I 98 and 266 to the inmost ones of the correspondingstationary contacts of the group I16, I12 and I14, as shown in Figure 11.

Energization from lead I86 of any of movable contacts H6, H2 and I14 of the flight-pathdeviation switching system depends upon completion of a circuit through or around thehook and slice selector switch 262. I

In the construction and operation of switch 262, the sleeve 26 carrying the ball support spindle I2 serves also as a mounting for the fixed contacts 206-;and 20s ofswitch'202. As shownin Figure 6, these contactsare carried at the lower ends ofsprin fingers 2 I and 2 I 2, which are supported at their upper ends respectively by the insulating posts 2M and 2| 6 or other suitable supports fixed to the side of sleeve 26 near its lower end. The switch arm Or blade of switch 202 comprises the normally vertical spring-fingers 202 electrically interconnected and connected to lead 220, supported by their upper ends on posts 218 mounted on the same side of sleeve 26 near its upper end, and carrying at their lower ends switchcontacts engageable with the contacts 206 and208. The lead220-and the leads 22I and 223 extending to contacts 206 and 208 are sufliciently flexible to prevent their interferin with the swinging movement of the spindle in either direction On its bearings 20.

The-lower end of the spindle carries a lug 28 of insulating material received between fingers or leaves 202 as shown in Figure 6. When the spindle is turned, the lug 28 presses against one or the other of the fingers 202, depending on the direction of such turning, to move such finger into contact with its complemental stationary contact 206 or 208, As explained previously, such turning of the spindle is eflected by strikin the ball element II! with a hooking or slicing stroke. Owing to the resistance to deflection of the fingers 202 by lug 28 bearing against them, such contacts will not be closed unless there is a substantial hook or slice tendency in the manner of driving the golf ball, and by appropriate selection of the spring fingers 202, or by adjusting therelative position of contacts 206 and 298 and their opposing contacts carried b the fingers 202,, the amountof hook or slice necessary to close switch 202 may be. selected at any desired value. I

The spring leaves 202 are sufliciently stifi to return the lug 28 to its neutral position. Moreover, fingers 2I9 and 2I2 are made relatively flexible in order to minimize the shock of engagement of fingers 292 with contacts 206 or 208 when the spindle is turned violently, and to increase the contact dwell time during conjoint fleXure outwardly and inwardly of one of spring fingers'202 and its'corresponding finger 2I0 or 2I2. The interval thus provided is sufficient for one of the holding relays I90 and I94, corresponding respectively to hook and slice contacts 206 and 208, to become energized despite any circuit gaps which may exist during the time requiredfor the deflection switch contacts to move between successive switching positions. switching apparatus could be used in lieu of switch 202 to produce indications of diilerent degrees of hook or slice should such indication be desired.

Relay I84 and holding relays I90 and I94, together with the hook-or-slice switch 202 coact together with the distance-indicator switching system to control the illumination of the display board. With switch 204 in its normally closed position the switch arm of switch 202 is energized from lead I86, and when it is moved to the right orleft into engagement with either of contacts 206 or 298, respectively, which occurs when the driven ball is struck with either a hook or slice, a circuit through the lighting system and the flight "path deviation switching system will be formed through the field of either of relays I94 Other or I90, energizing such relay. As holding relays, their contacts close with energization of their fields and thereafter continue to hold closed their field energizing circuits until such fields are deenergized by some other means, in this case the disengagement of all of switch contacts, I50. At the instant one of these circuits is completed through such relays, normallyclosed relay I84 is energized to open its switching contact and deenergize the wire I82, 7

If it be assumed that a ball is struck with leftward deviation, producing engagement of the left movable contacts I10, I12 and I14 with the second row of stationary contacts I10, I12 and I14, and with suflicient hook to close switch 202 to the left in Figure 11, energizing the contact 206, and further that the first or inmost of contacts I is engaged by follower plate 66, then the lowermost light to the left of the light system shown in Figure 11 will be illuminated. The

circuit for that light includes lead I56, wire I58, the light, the second of stationary contacts I14, movable contact I14, lead I92, the field of holding relay I94, initially lead 22I, contact 206 and switch 202, but finally the contacts of relay I94 as that relay closes, and the field coil of relay I84 to the lead I86. With the closing of this circuit, relay I84 becomes energized immediately, which opens its contacts, thereby precluding the middle line of lights of any group in the system from being illuminated through lead I82, at the same time that a left or right line, correspondillg to a ball driven with hook or slice, is illuminated. i

In another instance the ball may be struck without hook or slice and without deviation to left or right from the path of aim, in which case, neither of relays I90 or I94 will be energized, and the contacts of relay I84, which also remains deenergized, will therefore remain closed. The inmost of contacts I10 and I16 will remain en,- gaged by their respective movable contacts I10 and I16, forming a lighting circuit by way of switch I84, through one or more lights in the middle line of the central group of lights I46 and their corresponding contacts I50, switch plate 66 and energizinglead I56.

In still another instance a ball may be struck without slice or hook, but with deviation to the right. In this case as well, relay I 84 will remain unenergized and its contacts closed, but moving contacts I16, I18 and I will be advanced to the'right into engagement with the second of their stationary contacts I16, I18 and I80, or to a more remote group of contacts if the deviation is great and the control and lighting circuits are constructed with added groups of path lines in the board. .With the second of contacts I16 engaged, a circuit then exists through the middle line of lights of the group I48, the number of lights illuminated in such line again depending upon the position of follower plate 66.

In the event that the ball has been struck with a hook or slice of sufiicientmagnitude to ener gize one of relays I or I94, it becomes necessary to deenergize such relay in order to restore the circuit to its initial condition. This is carried out automatically by withdrawing the 'follower plate 66 from engagement. with all of contacts I50 when the apparatus is set by energizing thesolenoid I28. Alternatively, with a solenoid employed to reset the indicator switching devices, raising the golfball element I 0 into teed position by swinging spindle I2 upward, could be efiected by a separate solenoid or other suitable means.

Having described my novel practice driving apparatus with one type of display device, I wish 13 it to be understood that various modifications and alternative forms of indicating mechanism may be employed without departing from the principles of the invention defined in the claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. Golf practice driving apparatus comprising a ball element, a normally erect support for the ball element, means mounting said support at its base for swinging of its upper end carrying the ball element, both forward and sidewise from its erect position, upon said ball element being struck by a golf club in either such direction, actuating means connected to said support and movable thereby, a pair of members cooperating with said actuating means and disposed for engagement selectively by movement of said actuating means upon sidewise swinging of the ball element support in one direction or the other, respectively, and separate deviation indicating elements guided for displacement selectively by movement each by a different one of said members, to indicate by such displacement, sidewise deviation from a reference path of the direction in which said ball element is driven.

2. Golf practice driving apparatus defined in claim 1, and separate electrical switch-contact members operatively engageable by the respective separate deviation indicating elements, and guided for movement conjointly with such respective elements into displaced positions related to the deviation component of force impartedby a golf club to the ball element struck thereby, and switch contacts arranged in groups stationed along the respective paths of movement of said switch-contact members, to be engaged successively thereby.

3. Golf practice driving apparatus comprising a normally upright ball element support rod mounted at a lower portion thereof for universal swinging about two generally horizontal axes, one disposed transversely of the direction of drive and the othe generally parallel to the direction of drive, a ball element fixed to the swinging upper end of said rod, simulating a teed golf ball when said rod is disposed in upright position, a journal mount carrying said ball element support rod for rotation thereof about its own axis, said journal mount in turn being mounted for swinging of such rod about the twonamed generally horizontal axes, hook indicator means and slice indicator means carried by said journal mount, and indicator actuating means carried by said ball element support rod to engage and actuate one of said indicator means by self-rotation of said rod in one direction or the other, respectively, caused by spinning of the ball element struck a glancing blow by the golf club.

4. Golf practice driving apparatus comprising a normally upright ball element support rod mounted at a lower portion thereof for universal swinging about two generally horizontal axes, one disposed transversely of the direction of drive and the other generally parallel to the direction of drive, a ball element fixed to the swinging upper end of said rod, simulating a teed golf ball when said rod is disposed in upright position, displaceable impact-receiving means disposed to receive the impact of the struck ball element after its supporting rod has swung downward about the first-named axis through an angle sufficient to clear the moving golf club, deviation-responsive means displaceable by swinging of said rod about its second-named axis when the ball element is struck a deviating blow, follower indicating means displaceable unidirectionally by displacement of said deviation-responsive means, but returnable independently thereof to its initial position, follower distance-indicating means displaceable unidirectionally by displacement of said impact-receiving means, but returnable independently thereof to its initial position, and resetting means cooperating with both of said follower-indicating means and with said ball element support rod and operable to return such follower-indicating means to their initial positions and said support rod to its erect position simultaneously.

5. Golf practice driving apparatus comprising a normally upright support, universal bearing means mounting said support for swinging thereof downward from an upright position in any of various directions, a ball element fixed to the swinging upper portion of said support, simulating a teed golf ball when said support is in upright position, and swingable downward on.

said support in a direction depending upon the direction of impact on the ball element of a golf club striking the same, yieldable impactreceiving means disposed to be struck by said ball element swung downward through an angle sufilcient substantially to clear the moving golf club, said impact-receiving means being elongated in a horizontal direction generally perpendicular to the selected normal direction of drive,

for receiving the full impact of the ball element,

REFERENCES (511 121) The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,857,588 Doll May '10, 1932 1,975,368 Mikesell Oct. 2, 1934 2,014,145 Muth Sept. 10, 1935 2,018,291 Thompson Oct. 22, 1935 2,069,650 Engh Feb. 2, 1937' 2,179,891 Kaplan Nov. 14, 1939 

